Cap device for bottles

ABSTRACT

Cap reservoir device for a food bottle comprising a container with a neck on which the cap reservoir device is intended to be assembled in order to hermetically close the interior of the container. The cap reservoir device comprises:
         a capsule comprising a chamber closed by a bottom wall, the chamber being filled with a gas hermetically sealed by the capsule and the cap before actuation of the actuator,   a cap in which the capsule is disposed, the cap comprising a base part adapted to be fixed to the neck of the bottle,   a removable actuator comprising a perforator adapted to perforate the bottom wall, and   soluble nuggets comprising an active component surrounded by an envelope or a matrix of a soluble food substance protecting the active component against chemical alteration.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the field of food bottles and in particular to cap devices for food bottles containing food liquids.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Some active substances in edible liquids are susceptible to degradation due to light, heat, temperature changes or chemical reaction with the gaseous environment or the materials of the containers. The conservation of some active substances wished to be found in a liquid food, such as a beverage or other edible liquids, is better achieved in dry state or without oxygen. Oxygen or other reactive elements found in the surrounding air or dissolved in water, can lead to degradation over time of the active substances such as flavors or vitamins, or other food supplements.

Beverages and other food liquids must however be able to be transported, stored and put on sale for a certain period of time without losing their olfactory or nutritional qualities, and preferably in a non-refrigerated medium.

In general, there is an advantage in increasing the shelf life of food liquids while maintaining the expected taste and nutritional qualities.

It is common to provide substances for beverages in dry form, for example freeze-dried powders to be added to water or to a liquid beverage at the time of consumption of the beverage. However, there are many applications where this is not very practical and where consumers prefer to use a sealed bottle containing a ready-to-drink liquid.

In view of the foregoing, the object of the invention is to provide a cap reservoir device for a bottle making it possible to serve a liquid food such as a ready-to-drink beverage and which is convenient to use, while allowing to have a long conversation time and/or the preservation of the taste and nutritional qualities of the active substances.

It is advantageous to provide an easy-to-use cap reservoir device.

It is advantageous to provide a cap reservoir device for a bottle which is economical to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is achieved by a cap reservoir device for a bottle according to claim 1, and a bottle according to claim 15.

The invention relates to a cap device for a bottle comprising a container with a neck on which the cap reservoir device is intended to be assembled to hermetically close the interior of the container. The cap reservoir device comprises:

-   -   a capsule comprising a chamber closed by a bottom wall, the         chamber being filled with a gas hermetically closed by the         capsule and the cap,     -   a cap in which the capsule is disposed, the cap comprising a         base part adapted to be fixed to the neck of the bottle,     -   a removable actuator comprising a perforator adapted to         perforate, cut or break the bottom wall, and     -   soluble nuggets comprising an active component surrounded by an         envelope or a matrix of a soluble food substance protecting the         active component against chemical alteration.

In one advantageous embodiment, the soluble envelope or matrix is composed of an amylaceous starch, for example tapioca.

In one advantageous embodiment, the active components comprise one or more plant extracts.

In one advantageous embodiment, the base part of the cap comprises a crown with an internal thread configured to be screwed onto an external thread of a neck of a bottle.

In one advantageous embodiment, the cap comprises a cover part integrally formed with the base part and adapted to sealingly cover the opening formed at the end of the neck of the bottle.

In one advantageous embodiment, the part of the cover comprises a removable flexible central part making it possible to push a pusher of the actuator in order to move the perforator to perforate the bottom wall of the capsule.

In one advantageous embodiment, the cap comprises a top part forming a leaf relative to the base part, removable from a closed position covering the part of the cover of the cap so as not to be able to actuate the pusher of the actuator, at an open or removed position allowing the actuation of the pusher of the actuator.

In one advantageous embodiment, the bottom wall is a thin polymeric film such as a flexible PET film.

In one advantageous embodiment, the capsule comprises a fixing part in the form of a flange fixed to the base part of the cap.

In one advantageous embodiment, the capsule comprises a side wall sealingly connected to the bottom wall before actuation, the side wall being fixed to the base part of the cap and intended to be inserted inside the neck of the container.

In one advantageous embodiment, the actuator comprises a pusher comprising a rod extending in a cover part of the cap and the perforator disposed adjacent to the bottom wall.

In one advantageous embodiment, the rod comprises a hook engaging a fixing part of the capsule to retain the actuator in a lower position ensuring the opening of the bottom wall after actuation.

In one advantageous embodiment, the device comprises a plurality of soluble nuggets, at least one nugget having active components different from at least one other nugget.

In one advantageous embodiment, the capsule comprises a filter separating an upper part of the capsule from a lower part forming the chamber in which the soluble nuggets are disposed, the filter being configured to retain solid particles during the pouring of the content of a bottle through the filter.

In one advantageous embodiment, the cap, the capsule and the actuator are composed of one or more molded polymers, such as injected PET, the cap being disposable.

The invention also relates to a food bottle comprising a container and a neck forming the opening of the container, the neck comprising an external thread and an internal surface, and a cap reservoir device as described above, screwed onto the neck hermetically closing the interior of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly upon reading the following description of one preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, among which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food bottle with a cap reservoir device according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a cap reservoir device according to one embodiment of the invention mounted on a bottle;

FIG. 3 a is a view of the cap reservoir device showing a cap part in the open position;

FIG. 3 b is a sectional view of the device of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 4 a is a view similar to FIG. 3 a showing a user actuating the device;

FIG. 4 b is a sectional view of the cap reservoir device shown in FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 5 a is a view illustrating the step of mixing the beverage by shaking the bottle;

FIG. 5 b is a view illustrating the pouring of the liquid contained in the bottle into a glass after the mixing step;

FIG. 6 a is a perspective view of a cap reservoir device according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 b is a sectional view of the cap reservoir device of FIG. 6 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the figures, a cap reservoir device 1 for closing a bottle 30 is illustrated. The bottle 30 comprises a container 31 with a neck 32 on which the cap reservoir device 1 is intended to be mounted to hermetically close the liquid 40 contained in the container 31. The liquid can be water, tea, coffee, fruit juice, milk, soup, or other food liquids.

The cap reservoir device 1 comprises a capsule 3, soluble nuggets 5 contained in the capsule 3, an actuator 4 and a cap 2.

The cap 2 comprises a base part 6 which constitutes a frame intended to be fixed to the neck 32 of the bottle 30, and a top part 7 forming a leaf relative to the base part 6, allowing access to the pusher 18 of the actuator 4. The base part 6 of the cap 2 can in particular comprise a threaded crown 29 intended to engage an external thread 33 of the neck of the bottle. This thread corresponds to the thread found, for example, on many existing beverage bottles.

The base part 6 of the cap 2 can have any sort of other coupling shapes conforming to the neck of the container on which the cap is intended to be coupled.

The top part 7 covers the cover part 11 of the base part 6 and is removable relative to the base part 6 in order to give access to the pusher 18 of the actuator 4 to actuate the actuator just before consumption of the beverage.

The capsule 3 hermetically confine the soluble nuggets 5 relative to the liquid contained in the container 31 and relative to the external environment of the bottle 30. The capsule 3 comprises a fixing part 8 for example in the form of a flange engaging an internal surface of the upper part of the neck 32. The fixing part 8 can be formed in a secured manner with the base part 6 of the cap 2 or can be welded or fixed to the base part 6 of the cap 2.

The coupling between the edge 35 of the neck 32 and the cap 2 in the closed position constitutes a sealed coupling between the cap 2 and the container 31.

The capsule 3 further comprises a side wall 12 and a bottom wall 14 sealed relative to the interior of the container 31 and enclosing a chamber 16 in which the soluble nuggets 5 are contained.

The actuator 4 comprises a perforator 20 mounted in the chamber 16 and comprising perforation blades or points disposed adjacent to the bottom wall 14, the perforator 20 being coupled to a pusher 18 disposed at the upper part of the cap 2 under the top part 7 so as to be actuatable by the push of a finger of the user towards the interior of the container. The actuator 4 is removable from an upper position before use to a lower position in which the perforator 20 pierces at least part of the bottom wall 14.

The perforation in the bottom wall 14 allows the liquid contained in the container to flow into the chamber 16 and wet the soluble nuggets 5. The perforation in the bottom wall 14 can also be configured to cause the soluble nuggets 5 to fall into the liquid 40 contained in the container 31.

The pusher 18 can be coupled to the perforator 20 by a rod 24 which can be guided by the fixing part 8 of the capsule 3 and/or by the side wall 12. A hook 26 disposed on the rod, or other retention means, can be provided to lock the actuator in the base position after actuation, so as to keep the bottom wall 14 in the open position.

Before actuation, that is to say when the chamber 16 of the capsule is sealingly closed, the chamber 16 can be filled with a non-oxidizing gas, such as nitrogen, in order to increase the duration of preservation of the active substances contained in the soluble nuggets 5.

In one preferred embodiment, the soluble nuggets 5 comprise one or more active components covered by an envelope or a matrix of soluble food material which preserves the properties of the active components. These active components can be flavors, phenolic compounds (polyphenols), plants and plant extracts, essential oils, or other food or phytosanitary components to be mixed with the liquid contained in the container.

In some embodiments, different soluble nuggets may contain different active components. Indeed, some active components put together have a relatively short shelf life in relation to the storage time of a food beverage in a typical distribution chain, which can last a few days to a few months. There is therefore an advantage in keeping these active components separate and mixing them only shortly before consumption of the beverage in order to limit the degradation of these components as much as possible.

The envelope or the soluble material can in preferred embodiments be in the form of an amylaceous starch such as tapioca or other soluble food gels.

The cap reservoir devices 1 pre-filled with soluble nuggets 5 hermetically sealed inside the capsule 3, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 a, 6 b , can be provided already assembled to a bottle containing a liquid at atmospheric pressure or under a pressure as found in soft drinks. The container 31 of the bottle can be made of any material well known for food containers, such as glass, PET, polycarbonates and other materials typically used for the food containers.

In another embodiment, the cap reservoir device 1 according to the invention can also be provided without the bottle, for example packed in a sachet or other food packaging, and which can be used by the consumer to replace a standard container cap on a bottle filled with a liquid, for example a bottle of spring water.

A cap reservoir device 1 according to one embodiment can be provided with different soluble nuggets 5, for example containing different flavors or food or phytosanitary substances.

When a user wants to consume a beverage or other liquid food, he releases the top part 7 of the cap as illustrated in FIG. 4 a and presses the pusher 18 of the actuator 4, which lowers the perforator 20 that cuts, perforates or breaks part of the bottom wall 4. The perforator 20 is configured so as to cut only a part of the periphery of the bottom wall 14 leaving a part secured to the side wall 12 so that the bottom wall 14 remains attached to the capsule 3 and does not fall into the container 31. The perforator can for example have perforating or cutting teeth on an arc of a circle for example of 270° to 330° so as to cut out a majority of the periphery of the bottom wall. The soluble nuggets 5 can either fall into the liquid upon perforation or remain in the capsule 3.

In a first variant, the cap 2 comprises a cover part covering the opening of the neck 32 and sealingly connected to the base part 6. The pusher 18 is coupled in a manner secured, by welding, or not secured to the cover part 11 of the cap 2. The part of the cover 11 can be curved upwards, that is to say in a convex manner towards the outside of the bottle, and is flexible enough to be able to be depressed by a user's finger when he pushes on it to actuate the actuator 4 and perforate the capsule 3. In this variant, the top part 7 covers the cover part 11 of the cap so as to avoid involuntary actuation of the actuator before the top part is open.

In another variant, the top part 7 can also be used to sealingly close the opening of the neck 32 and can be screwed hermetically to the base part of the cap 2. Other coupling means, such as by a swivel connection and a clip mechanism, can be provided to fix the top part to the base part 6 of the cap 2.

After perforation of the capsule, the user can shake the bottle to mix the soluble nuggets 5 with the liquid 40 in order to dissolve the soluble envelope of the nuggets and release the active components. According to the embodiment, the user can completely unscrew or remove the cap reservoir device 1 from the container 31 to directly drink from the bottle or pour the liquid into a glass as illustrated in FIG. 5 b.

In one variant, the user can open the top part 7 to then pour the liquid through the capsule 3 which remains in place on the neck of the bottle. In this variant, it is possible to provide for a filter 9 inside the capsule which can be in the form of a screen retaining solid materials contained in the soluble nuggets, or in the form of a finer filter such as a paper filter to retain finer particles. In such a variant, it can also be envisaged that the dissolution of the soluble nuggets 5 takes place when the user pours the contents of the container, the dissolution being performed during the discharge of the liquid contained in the container.

The cap reservoir device according to the invention can be dimensioned and provided with fixing means complementary to various existing bottles and flasks as a replacement for the conventional caps sealingly closing the necks of said various flasks and bottles. The cap reservoir device according to embodiments of the invention can be pre-mounted on a bottle filled at factory, or sold separately for use by the consumer on a conventional bottle. The bottle can be a disposable or reusable bottle that the user can fill himself for example with tap water or other liquids. The user can then actuate the cap to release the soluble nuggets into the liquid contained in the container just before consuming the liquid.

A cap reservoir device according to the invention can therefore be used to flavor tap water or other cold or hot liquids such as coffee, tea and herbal teas. The invention makes it possible to release active components just before consumption of the beverage and to keep these components in a state protected against alteration by oxygen or other chemical agents. For example, in pharmacology it is known that many natural products obtained from plants cannot be mixed together before their consumption. It is therefore possible to preserve the flavors or the nutritional, phytosanitary or drug components.

LIST OF REFERENCES

-   -   Bottle 30         -   Container 31             -   Neck 32                 -   External thread 33                 -   Internal surface 34     -   Cap reservoir device 1         -   Soluble nuggets 5             -   Active component                 -   Flavors, Plants, . . .             -   Soluble Enveloppe ou Matrix                 -   Amylaceous starch (e.g. Tapioca)         -   Cap 2             -   Base part 6 (frame)                 -   Threaded crown             -   Top part 7 (leaf)                 -   Swivel Top             -   Cover part 11         -   Capsule 3             -   Fixing part 8                 -   Flange             -   Filter 9             -   Side wall 12             -   Bottom wall 14                 -   Sealed polymeric film             -   Chamber 16         -   Actuator 4             -   Pusher 18                 -   Pad 22                 -   Rod 24                 -   Hook 26             -   Perforator 20     -   Liquid (beverage) 40 

1.-15. (canceled)
 16. A cap reservoir device for a food bottle comprising a container with a neck on which the cap reservoir device is intended to be assembled to hermetically close the interior of the container, the cap reservoir device comprising: a cap comprising a base part adapted to be fixed to the neck of the bottle, a capsule disposed in the cap forming a chamber partially closed by a bottom wall, the chamber being filled with a gas hermetically closed by the capsule and the cap, and a removable actuator comprising a perforator configured to perforate, cut or break the bottom wall, characterized in that the cap reservoir device further comprises: soluble nuggets comprising an active component surrounded by an envelope or a matrix of a soluble food substance protecting the active component against chemical alteration.
 17. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the soluble envelope or matrix is composed of an amylaceous starch, for example tapioca.
 18. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the active components comprise one or more plant extracts.
 19. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the base part of the cap comprises a crown with an internal thread configured to be screwed onto an external thread of a neck of a bottle.
 20. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the cap comprises a cover part integrally formed with the base part and adapted to sealingly cover the opening formed at the end of the neck of the bottle.
 21. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the part of the cover comprises a removable flexible central part making it possible to push a pusher of the actuator in order to move the perforator to perforate the bottom wall of the capsule.
 22. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the cap comprises a top part forming a leaf relative to the base part, removable from a closed position covering the part of the cover of the cap so not to be able to actuate the pusher of the actuator, at an open or removed position allowing the actuation of the pusher of the actuator.
 23. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the bottom wall is a thin polymeric film such as a flexible PET film.
 24. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the capsule comprises a fixing part in the form of a flange fixed to the base part of the cap.
 25. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the capsule comprises a side wall sealingly connected to the bottom wall before actuation, the side wall being fixed to the base part of the cap and intended to be inserted inside the neck of the container.
 26. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the actuator comprises a pusher comprising a rod extending in a cover part of the cap and the perforator disposed adjacent to the bottom wall.
 27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that the rod comprises a hook engaging a fixing part of the capsule to retain the actuator in a lower position ensuring the opening of the bottom wall after actuation.
 28. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the device comprises a plurality of soluble nuggets, at least one nugget having active components different from at least one other nugget.
 29. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the cap, the capsule and the actuator are composed of one or more molded polymers, such as injected PET, the cap being disposable.
 30. A food bottle comprising a container and a neck forming the opening of the container, the neck comprising an external thread and an internal surface, and a cap reservoir device according to claim 16, screwed onto the neck hermetically closing the interior of the container. 